In early August, my friend Kate and I decided to stay closer to home for a bike tour. We completed a wonderful loop that included all sorts of side adventures. Meeting on the Seattle waterfront, we boarded the Victoria Clipper and sailed for Victoria, BC. A night in a nice AirB&B and an afternoon at the great provincial museum made some good memories. Then into the Gulf Islands we cycled, camping on Mayne and Salt Spring Islands. Slow and relaxed is my assessment of Mayne; hilly and bustling with tourist is the feel of Salt Spring. Both were fun and varied.
We returned to the peninsula and pedaled a few miles to Sidney, where we caught the boat for San Juan Island. We stayed with my brother Sven and had some hot days on the roads. An amazing meal at the cheese shop in Friday Harbor, another at Westcott Bay Shellfish Company and even more amazing right at home with Sven. Next up was Lopez Island and a stay in a yurt at the south end. A hike to Iceberg Point was a highlight and some other tucked-away beaches were very nice. When we left Lopez we took the ferry to Anacortes and spent the day riding south on Whidbey Island, our longest day. We stayed this night at an AirB&B in the town of Freeland, in what the owner called “the caravan.” Very cozy and funky and green and fun! Then it was one more ferry to the mainland and completion of the circle to Seattle again.
Last year it was biking around the Netherlands. This year closer to home. Next year?